VFB Stuttgart Season 2022 Match 3

VfB Stuttgart – SC Freiburg

Date: 20th August 2022, 3:30 pm

Result: 0 – 1

There's something that not everyone understands about football. It's not just about athletic ability and how well you've trained. It's a matter of psychology. A team can't win unless it believes it can win. That's the dilemma in which VfB Stuttgart finds itself now. After two drawn matches, which VfB should arguably have won, the third match has been lost. Three games without a win at the beginning of the season is a tough punishment for the club's self-esteem. Next week's game against FC Köln will be difficult, but it must be won. Another defeat would be devastating.

The stadium sold out. 47,500 spectators. The Stuttgart team began the game aggressively, hoping for an early goal. In the sixth minute Borna Sosa made a cross, and Josha Vagnoman headed the ball just wide of the post. After this they lost momentum. Freiburg took the lead with a goal by Vincenzo Grifo in the eleventh minute. Neither team had any significant chances for the next 20 minutes. At the thirty minute mark Freiburg had a near miss when Michael Gregoritsch headed the ball just wide of VfB's goal. Five minutes later Borna Sosa made another cross, and the Freiburg goalkeeper barely saved the header by Konstantinos Mavropanos. The match went into halftime with Freiburg a goal ahead.

Minutes into the second half, VfB had a good scoring chance. Borna Sosa had a shot at goal which was blocked by Freiburg's goalkeeper Mark Flekken. The ball was sent to the other end of the field, and only one minute later Freibug's Ritsu Doan hammered a shot which was saved by Florian Müller. The game continued with many chances for VfB, all of which were saved by Mark Flekken's excellent goalkeeping skills.

As the game continued it became obvious that Freiburg was concentrating on defence to maintain their lead. VfB fought valiantly to equalise, but they couldn't get the goal they needed. Lilian Egloff had a near miss in the 92nd minute, which was VfB's last chance of the match. It was a disappointing loss for the great Stuttgart team.

VfB Stuttgart is now in the 12th position in the league table, but at this early stage in the season the five teams from 11th to 15th all have equal match points. Stuttgart is barely clear of the relegation zone. As I said above, a victory is needed next week, not just to strengthen the team's psychology, but to put them clear of relegation danger.